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Introduction

Purcell’s ‘Complete Service’ in B flat, a setting of ten canticles, though not unique, is a comparative rarity for its time. Alongside a Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (and their alternatives, the Cantate Domino and Deus misereatur) for performance at Evensong, Purcell wrote a Te Deum, Benedictus, Benedicite and Jubilate for Morning Service and Kyrie and Nicene Creed for the Communion service. The setting must have been extremely useful to cathedral and other choirs for the service appears, either complete or in part, in numerous different manuscripts all over Britain and has been included on service lists almost ever since. Compared to the anthems, the B flat service settings appear conservative, the harmony usually remaining relatively simple and often homophonic. However, they do contain ingenious canonic and other contrapuntal devices, and their choruses alternate with sections of verse which are usually split between three upper and three lower solo voices. A payment of thirty shillings is registered in the accounts of Westminster Abbey for Michaelmas 1681 ‘for writing Mr Purcell’s service and anthem’.

The Te Deum and Jubilate are of course very different to the more famous 1694 settings in D major (recorded on Disc 2), for the B flat service was not written for a grand public celebration of St Cecilia’s Day. But the earlier setting is nonetheless beautifully crafted, alternating sections of chorus and verse and adding further variety in the choral sections with antiphonal effects between the two ‘sides’ of the choir, decani and cantoris. Purcell also skilfully colours his text by the allocation of his forces: in the Te Deum the lower solo trio sing ‘To thee all angels cry aloud’, the three upper voices (two trebles and a tenor) depict the ‘Cherubin and Seraphim’ (two of the highest of the nine orders of angels, associated respectively with knowledge and love) and the full choir take on the role of the Heavenly Host and their continual cries of ‘Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth’.

Purcell relaxes the mood for the more reflective central section of the Te Deum ‘When thou took’st upon thee’ and the chorus that follows, especially the setting of ‘We therefore pray thee’ is particularly effective. At ‘Vouchsafe, O Lord’ (for which in the 1694 setting Purcell produced one of his very greatest movements) Purcell changes the soloists’ distribution, adding a second bass and creating the only moment when treble and bass soloists sing together. The result is especially touching. The Jubilate has a text considerably shorter than the Te Deum and Purcell’s aim is, again, to get through the text speedily. At ‘O go your way into his gates’ he skilfully incorporates a double canon in contrary motion — ‘per arsin et thesin’: the trebles exactly copy the tenor line but in inversion, and the altos do the same with the separate line first heard in the basses. There is one short section of verse, ‘For the Lord is gracious’, which is heard before the concluding Gloria.

Recordings

'It is hard to speak too highly of this enterprise … much enjoyment to be had' (Gramophone)'the performances from The King’s Consort and its Choir, the Choir of New College and a starry line-up of soloists have such qualities of concentratio ...» More

The Choir of Westminster Abbey under their inspirational director James O’Donnell delves into the Abbey’s vaults for this latest fascinating disc. The triumphant mood of the Restoration required much glorious liturgical music, and the Abbey was ho ...» More

O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand and with his holy arm hath he gotten himself the victory. The Lord declared his salvation; his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remember’d his mercy and truth towards the house of Israel; and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. O shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord all ye lands; sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the Lord upon the harp; sing to the harp with a psalm of thankgiving. With trumpets also and shawms, O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord. Let the sea make a noise, and all that herein is; the round world and all that are therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world; and the people with equity. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

God be merciful unto us and bless us, and shew us the light of his countenance. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for thou shalt judge the earth righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made: Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heav’n and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffer’d, and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to scriptures, and ascended into heav’n, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified. Who spake by the prophets. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church, I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaid. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaid. For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm. He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away. He rememb’ring his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. To be a light to lighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

We praise thee, O God. We acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud, the Heav’ns and all the powers therein. To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee. The Father of an infinite majesty; Thine honourable, true and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou took’st upon thee to deliver man, Thou did’st not abhor the virgin’s womb. When thou had’st overcome the sharpness of death, Thou did’st open the Kingdom of Heav’n to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, Whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be number’d with thy saints, in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage. Govern them, and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify thee, and we worship thy name, Ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people; And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets: which have been since the world began; That we should be saved from our enemies: and from the hands of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers: and to remember his holy covenant; To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham: that he would give us; That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies: might serve him without fear; In holiness and righteousness before him: all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people: for the remission of their sins; Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited, and redeemed his people; And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us. To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, and to remember his holy covenant; To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, That he would give us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear; In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

Morning Canticle 3: Benedicite
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord

O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord: O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord: O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord: O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Dews and Frosts, ye Frost and Cold, O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord: O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord: O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O let the Earth bless the Lord: yea, let it praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O all ye Green Things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Seas and Floods, O ye Whales and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O all ye Fowls of the Air, O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord: O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O let Israel bless the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: O ye Spirits and Souls of the righteous, Ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever. O Ananias, Azarias and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye waters that be above the firmament, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord: O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: O ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord: O ye winds of God, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye dews and frost, ye frost and cold, O ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord, O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O let the earth bless the Lord, Yea, let it praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O all ye green things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye wells, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye seas and floods, O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O all ye fowls of the air, O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O let Israel bless the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, Ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. O Ananias, Azarias and Misael, bless ye the Lord: Praise him and magnify him for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, And to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen.

O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.